NCN backed to create England scars

Josh Hazlewood hopes England are scarred by their first Magellan Ashes tune-up, backing Nathan Coulter-Nile to strike some early blows against the tourists' inexperienced batsmen.

Joe Root's side have their first hit of the tour in a two-day game that starts on Saturday, with express paceman Coulter-Nile a surprise inclusion among the local XI in Perth.

Coulter-Nile's preference was to play the star-studded Sheffield Shield clash between Western Australia and NSW in Sydney, where Hazlewood will mark his first-class return from a side strain.

In recent years, touring teams have rarely had a chance to face such a skilled fast bowler in a warm-up match.

Hazlewood hopes the change works in Australia's favour, suggesting his fired-up pace colleague could do some early damage ahead of the five-Test series that starts on November 23.

"I probably see it more as a positive," he said at the SCG on Thursday.

"Maybe he can crack open a few guys early and create a few scars I guess in their top order and middle order.

"It will be their first real hit-out in Australia ... that's obviously their plan, to jump straight into it on the the bounciest and quickest wicket.

"To have a guy like Coults there to warm them up and maybe create a few scars would be nice."

Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have previously forecast a bouncer barrage, making it clear they want to expose England's inexperience in the Ashes.

Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan and James Vince could potentially feature in the visitors' top six for the first Test. The trio have played a combined 15 Tests, all at home.

Hazlewood noted Starc and Cummins are both capable of sparking collapses and striking fear into the opposition.

"That's why I always bowl when they're bowling in the nets, I don't have to face them," he quipped.

"On that Gabba wicket, you always want to use it to its advantage.

"They're not going to be scared of me or Nathan (Lyon), but the other two bowlers put fear into the batsmen. That's part of their game, bowling fast and bowling short on occasions.

"They can take three or four really quick ones and really crack the game wide open."

Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins have played plenty of white-ball cricket together but are yet to feature in the same Test XI.

"We don't really talk about it too much. I guess because it hasn't happened," Hazlewood said.

"It's great to get both of them together and we've got a pretty good record when we're all together."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21

WA paceman Jason Behrendorff, who missed selection for the opening round of the Shield last week but will return against NSW, and is another who could come into Ashes calculations later in the series.